Electrical Engineer

TerraFirma, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering company that is transforming the construction industry with innovative technology. As a key player in developing advanced electrical systems for heavy machinery, you will have the opportunity to take ownership of your projects and work alongside a dynamic team of engineers. This role offers a unique chance to contribute to groundbreaking projects that enhance efficiency and sustainability in construction. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and are passionate about making a significant impact, this position is perfect for you. Embrace the challenge and help build a better future with cutting-edge solutions.

Benefits

Generous Equity

Relocation Packages

Flexible Work Hours

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in electrical engineering and hardware development.
• Proficiency in designing and analyzing analog and digital systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee electrical systems for heavy construction equipment.
• Collaborate with teams to deliver custom hardware solutions.

Skills

Electrical Hardware Design

PCB Design

Power Management Systems

Digital and RF Communications

Hardware Debugging

Soldering and Wire Harnessing

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

Tools

CAD Software

Job description

Are you an elite engineer looking for the freedom and resources to achieve the impossible? THEN COME BUILD GIANT TERRAFORMING ROBOTS THAT WILL BUILD A BETTER FUTURE!

At TerraFirma, we're not just building robots —we’re redefining how the world moves earth for construction.

Our team, founded by former SpaceX engineers and backed by Bain Capital Ventures, is driven by a mission to make construction faster, more efficient, and more sustainable through pragmatic human-in-the-loop automation.

Our Mission:

TerraFirma was founded to build a brighter future for humanity by revolutionizing how we construct the large-scale physical infrastructure our planet desperately needs. From enabling mega-scale renewable energy projects and constructing resilient cities, to building efficient transportation and eco-friendly water infrastructure, our work today paves the way for a brighter, more sustainable future. The first step in all of these projects is to move massive amounts of dirt incredibly efficiently. As we look to the stars, we recognize that mining, processing, and moving raw materials will be the foundation of humanity's expansion into the cosmos. TerraFirma is pioneering the technology that will not only secure a sustainable future for humanity on Earth but also unlock the boundless possibilities of interplanetary expansion.

Our Company:

TerraFirma was founded by two engineers named Noah who met while studying engineering at Princeton. After Princeton, both contributed to cutting-edge projects at SpaceX, where Noah Schochet (CEO) designed and mass-produced the Starlink user terminals and Starship rockets, and Noah McGuinness (CTO) developed flight software for SpaceX's satellite constellation. Now, they're taking the SpaceX Mentality -- rapid iteration based on engineering first principles -- to the construction industry. Their experience in pushing the boundaries of space exploration now fuels TerraFirma's mission to transform how we build the world's critical infrastructure here on Earth.

We are moving at light speed, and are ready to start scaling. Our fully functional ecosystem retrofits existing earthmoving machines (excavators, bulldozers, loaders, etc.) and enables one operator to control three or more machines simultaneously. Our headquarters, AKA Robot Ranch, is located in Austin, TX. We are committed to iterating and improving as rapidly as possible. To that end, we have fully stocked mechanical and electrical workshops, giant machines to retrofit, plenty of land to test on, and we are surrounded by earthworks projects with customers eager to start using our technology.

What we're looking for:
We’re seeking innovators, boundary-pushers, and people who will move heaven and earth to achieve the impossible. If you are someone who:

• Is driven by a relentless need to make the world better

• Thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure environments

• Hates being a cog in a machine and wants extreme ownership and opportunities to learn

• Has developed versatile technical skills by building amazing projects

• Can wear many hats, and loves learning new skills quickly

Then you're in the right place!

The Role:

In this role, you won’t just be an employee - you’ll be a trailblazer. You should expect to take hands-on ownership over a variety of new and existing electrical systems required to reliably operate heavy construction equipment. In addition to designing and manufacturing custom hardware solutions, you will oversee test campaigns for your systems and may need to interface with hardware found on existing construction equipment. Day-to-day responsibilities will involve PCB design, working with power management systems, digital and RF communications, and new sensor integration and development with a small interdisciplinary team of software, firmware, and mechanical engineers. This role is best suited for fast learners who are comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy and a large scope of responsibility.

Responsibilities:

• Own the design and architecture of electrical systems, including schematic captures and PCB layouts for custom hardware solutions

• Design, analyze, and test digital and analog circuits for power management systems, high-speed buses, and radio frequency communications

• Design and develop scalable, mass-producible wiring harnesses for high-efficiency production

• Work with interdisciplinary teams to design, test, and deliver custom hardware solutions both for vehicle systems and support equipment

• Take on leadership roles when required, mentor new employees, and actively participate in the hiring process

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field

• 3+ years of professional or project experience with electrical engineering and hands-on hardware development

• Proficiency in electrical hardware design and analysis for both analog and high-speed digital systems, with experience in hardware debugging and reverse engineering

• Proficiency in basic skills and best practices for building connectors and wire harnessing, including soldering, de-soldering, crimping, and connector selection

• Demonstrated experience owning large-scale deliverables, leading teams, and driving product roadmaps

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience designing or testing hardware for operation in adverse environmental conditions, including noisy EMF, intense vibration, and high-temperature fluctuations

• Experience designing and running test campaigns for qualification/acceptance for custom hardware

• Familiarity with low-level programming, common embedded protocols, Ethernet, and HDL

• Professional work experience in relevant industries including construction, automotive, robotics, or aerospace

• Specific experience with any of the following: RF, sensor development, localization, digital filtering, video processing

• Experience with component selection and integration for SoCs, FPGAs, MCUs, and custom ICs

• Familiarity with CAD tools and software

Additional Requirements:

• Must be willing to work extended hours or weekends when needed to support critical deadlines or triage urgent deployment issues

• Must be willing to relocate to Austin, TX if not within commuting distance

Compensation & Benefits:

TerraFirma is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role is $100,000 - $170,000. Base compensation will vary based on factors such as relevant experience and education. Salaries and leveling will be determined on a case-by-case basis if an offer is extended. Our total compensation package also includes generous equity in TerraFirma. Relocation packages are available to compensate employees for moving costs if applicable.